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I have been an EC girl since Spring 2015. Even in high school, I found the Youtube videos showcasing the beautiful Erin Condren Life Planners captivating. Youtubers like Pretty Neat Living, previously known as Organized Like Jen, and Happily a Housewife, inspired me to become more organized. As a high school student, my basic student planner from Target did the trick. As I entered my first year of college, things changed. No longer was I only managing nightly homework, social gatherings, club meetings, and long-term planning were a must to keep my hectic life in order. One evening, when Erin Condren was having a huge Life Planner sale, I bit the bullet and bought my very first Erin Condren LifePlanner. I was hooked, and continued to buy one every year there after. I have been really happy in my LifePlanner, but Erin Condren has added so much to her impressive collection of planners. The addition of hardbound planners caught my eye. I loved the small size of the of the newest Erin Condren Hardbound LifePlanner, but I wasn’t sure how my planning style would carry over to the horizontal planning space and smaller size. Well, I figured it out and I’m here to show you how I plan in my Spiralbound LifePlanner and HardboundLife Planner.
Right off the bat, it’s clear that my hardbound planner is much smaller than my spiralbond. That’s something that made me excited and also worried. Now that I have taken it for a test-run, I think the smaller size is more convenient for my life at the moment. It’s really easy to transition from my backpack, tote bag, and even my purse! Something I have been contemplating a lot as 2018 rapidly approaches is which planner I was going to buy. I am no longer going to be a student in the new year, rather a recent graduate. My large LifePlanner just seemed like too much for someone who was no longer in school or managing a family. I know the Spiralbound LifePlanner is a big favorite for mom’s who are managing their children’s scheduled. That is definitely not me. I think the smaller, Hardbound LifePlanner is perfect for a young working professional. It’s enough to keep my work life, personal life, and appointments in order. Plus the size makes it easy to bring from home to work and back.
When planning in my Spiralbound LifePlanner, I love to use stickers to plan! It not only makes my planner fun and pretty, but it also adds a great deal of functionality. As you can see, my to-do lists are left blank on the image above. While I do add in my assignments and plans, I usually wait to do my to-do lists until the week or day arrives. I don’t always know exactly which assignments and readings I will need to do on a given day. So, this isn’t completely filled in yet, but it’s a spread I have already started working on. While you don’t have to add stickers and tape to your planner, I think it’s a fun touch! Plus, there are so many sellers now, Erin Condren, Etsy Shops, and even Michael’s Arts and Crafts.
Because I love to sticker plan, I wasn’t sure how that would transition in my new Hardbound LifePlanner. I played around with some of my stickers and planning tools, and I think the results are amazing.
This is the same week, but planned in my new planner. I was still able to incorporate fun and functional stickers, to achieve the same look and goals as my spiral planner. I found that using stickers to create spaces for lists in the boxes, while still leaving room to record due dates was really helpful for me I also used a yellow highlighter to highlight some of the notes I wrote on the paper so they don’t get lost. I think the spread is beautiful and still functional. I like how everything is very concise. Sometimes in my spiral planner, I tend to add things for the sake of filling space. I don’t have the luxury of extra space in my new planner. I think that helped me stay on track. Plus, going from a vertical to a horizontal spread wasn’t a big deal like I thought. Although, Erin Condren does make a hardbound vertical planner as well.
The monthly spread section is almost identical in both planners. While you do get a little more space in the spiralbound planner, I think the hardbound is perfect size. Iv’e never been someone that goes over the top with my monthly spread. For me, it’s usually just for large assignments or appointments that are important. I rarely get too detailed, so the smaller calendar is no problem for me.
When is comes to planners, you cannot go wrong with an Erin Condren LifePlanner. If I have learned anything from this experience, it’s that you shouldn’t feel “stuck” with one type of planner just because it’s what you have always used. I think the Erin Condren Hardbound LifePlanner is perfect as a student planner. Also, as a young adult entering the workforce very soon, I think the smaller hardbound is perfect for my changing needs from student to working adult. Definitely check out all of Erin Condren’s amazing planners and organization tools. Whether you’re a sticker fanatic or a pencil kind of girl, there is something for everyone!
Happy planning, collegiettes!